Tropicana Canvas plant? Do I need to cut it down for the winter time?

Question

I have a tropicana canvas plant. I live in Northern Utah. Its getting colder and we do experience very harsh winters. Do I need to cut them down below the root?

Answer 1

Your question took me aback, then I figured it out. I'm not making fun of you! "Tropicanna" is the cultivar, Canna is the plant.

In northern Utah, I doubt that Canna is hardy there. I live in Michigan, in USDA hardiness zone 5, and they aren't hardy here.

If you want to 'keep' the plants from year to year, you'll need to lift the whole plant out of the ground, knock the dirt from the roots, and allow the plant to dry out. I'd do this in the garage, unless a hard freeze is likely, in the basement in that case. Once the foliage has dried up, cut it off, and rub away the remaining dirt and dried roots. Store the 'bulb' in a paper bag with perilite.

Don't let it freeze, but do let it dry out. The basement is a good storage location.

In mid March or Early April, pot the bulbs up in large grower pots. Water as needed, leave them in the basement. Once shoots sprout, move them to a lit window. When nice enough outdoors, let them spend the day outside, and in at night. Once all danger of frost has past, transplant them into the garden.

Repeat every year.

I hope that this helps
Good luck-